We all got in the car and headed out to the rainforest zoo, which was small but free. We saw quite a few monkeys, frogs and even a syberian tiger. The kids enjoyed that.

After that we headed toward the volcano to try to see the lava tube. On the way toward the volcano we stopped at a glass blowing factory called 2400 farenheit. The art at this place was really cool. They had the run of the mill vases and abstract statues but they also had some really cool pieces that were representative of the volcano. We purchased a piece that is good for table top display that looks like a lava pool. It was about the only thing we could afford….lol.

We arrived at the Volcano National Park by noon and drove around the loop inside. When we came to the lava tube there was no parking so we kept going. We drove all the way down to the sea stopping along the way for photo ops etc. We were able to see lots of Lava fields from several decades. Lava when it’s cooled looks a lot like asphalt. There are a couple different kinds of Lava, one looks like what you would think, smooth and shiny. The other looks like pavement that has been broken up and it’s jagged. Along the road there were several craters. We stopped at the first and took a few pictures but after that they were pretty much all the same. The whole purpose of driving down toward the sea was to see the sea arch. It was pretty cool and we enjoyed the ride to see all the different lava fields. After that we drove by the Kilauea Military Camp to scope it out for our trip in November.

Nah couldn’t get anywhere near the actual red stuff. I told my parents it isn’t worth traveling to BI to see Lava cause since the earthquake in Japan you can’t even see if from off shore. So the only way to see it now is by helecopter and that’s only if the conditions are right. Maybe someday yah?

The material in this blog is from my own experience on the trail and is intended as a guide to help you see the wonderful beauty that Hawaii has to offer. But always remember that trail conditions can and do vary greatly and can change very quickly. Many of these trails are muddy even on the dryest day and that mud coating a rock or wood surface is very slick. Be prepared for contingencies such as rain, wind or loss of daylight. Also make sure you bring plenty of water since staying hydrated is important. Remember you are the best judge of your own ability and turning back when things get tricky is always an option. See the safety section for more tips on trail safety and preparedness. Don't be afraid to get dirty on the way and have fun!